U.S. patent number 4,862,563 [Application Number 07/072,333] was granted by the patent office on 1989-09-05 for securing strap and fastener.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Jane Marie Flynn. Invention is credited to James P. Flynn.
United States Patent |
4,862,563 |
Flynn |
September 5, 1989 |
Securing strap and fastener
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a flexible securing strap
having at one end a double-sided strip of VELCRO.RTM. hook
material. The other end is bifurcated into two sections, each of
which have the VELCRO.RTM. loop material on the internal surface,
such that the VELCRO.RTM. hook end will attach to the interior
surfaces of each of the bifurcated end sections in a sandwhich
fashion. The invention is also directed to the fastener itself.
Inventors: |
Flynn; James P. (Janesville,
WI) |
Assignee: |
Jane Marie Flynn (St. Paul,
MN)
|
Family
ID: |
22106936 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/072,333 |
Filed: |
July 13, 1987 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/442; 24/31V;
24/306 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A44B
18/00 (20130101); A45C 13/30 (20130101); A45F
3/14 (20130101); B60P 7/0823 (20130101); B60R
9/048 (20130101); B62J 7/08 (20130101); F16B
2/08 (20130101); F16B 7/0433 (20130101); F16B
2001/0028 (20130101); Y10T 24/1696 (20150115); Y10T
24/27 (20150115); Y10T 24/2708 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
A45F
3/14 (20060101); A45F 3/00 (20060101); A44B
18/00 (20060101); A45C 13/30 (20060101); B60R
9/00 (20060101); B60P 7/08 (20060101); B62J
7/00 (20060101); B62J 7/08 (20060101); B60P
7/06 (20060101); F16B 2/08 (20060101); F16B
2/02 (20060101); F16B 1/00 (20060101); F16B
7/04 (20060101); A44B 018/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;24/442,444,445,447,304,306,31R,31V,DIG.11 ;248/205.2
;128/DIG.15,327 ;2/DIG.6 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Sakran; Victor N.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Lathrop & Clark
Claims
I claim:
1. A flexible strap fastener including an elongated flexible
resilient strap, comprising:
(a) a first end having a first planer surface, which includes a
first peelable hook-and-loop type engaging element secured thereto
and a second planer surface which includes the first peelable
hook-and-loop type engaging element secured thereto such that the
first engaging elements face in opposite directions;
(b) a second end having corresponding peelable, flexible
hook-and-loop type engaging elements adapted to interlock with the
first end, the second end being bifurcated into a first section and
a second section, wherein the first section and the second section
are joined at only one end, each section having substantially the
same dimensions as the first end, wherein the first section is
defined by a first internal surface having the second engaging
element secured thereto and the second section is defined by a
second internal surface having a second engaging element secured
thereto such that the second engaging elements of the first and
second internal surfaces of the second end grippingly receive the
first engaging elements of the first and second sections of the
first end when the first and second elements are applied in a
closed position, each section of the second end further comprising
a flexible resilient material enabling the second end to be peeled
away from the first end.
2. The fastener according to claim 1 wherein the first engaging
element comprises a pile fabric with hook elements and the second
engaging element comprises a pile fabric with loop elements.
3. The fastener according to claim 2 wherein the first engaging
element comprises a pile fabric with loop elements and the second
engaging element comprises a pile fabric with hook elements.
4. A securing strap comprising:
an elongated strap of flexible resilient material having a first
end and a second end;
wherein the first end has a tip portion, a first planer surface and
a second planer surface such that the first planer surface and the
second planer surface face in opposite directions, wherein the
first end includes a continuous flexible hook-and-loop type
engaging element extending from the first planer surface over the
tip portion to the second planer surface, and the second end having
corresponding flexible hook-and-loop type engaging elements is
bifurcated into a first section and a second section, wherein the
first section is an extension of the securing strap and the second
section is attached to the securing strap such that the first
section and the second section are joined at only one end, each of
the first and second sections having substantially the same
dimensions as the first end, wherein the first section is defined
by a first internal surface having a second engaging element
secured thereto and the second section is defined by a second
internal surface having the second engaging element secured
thereto, such that the second engaging elements of the first and
second internal surfaces of the second end grippingly receive the
first engaging elements of the first and second sections of the
first end when the first and second elements are applied in a
closed position, each section of the second end further comprising
a flexible resilient material to enable the second end to be peeled
away from the first end.
5. The securing strap according to claim 4 wherein the strap is
made of flexible material.
6. The securing strap according to claim 4 wherein the first
engaging element comprises a pile fabric with hook elements and the
second engaging element comprises a pile fabric with loop
elements.
7. The securing strap according to claim 4 wherein the first
engaging element comprises a pile fabric with loop elements and the
second engaging element comprises a pile fabric with hook
elements.
8. A securing strap comprising:
an elongated strap of flexible, resilient material having a first
end and a second end, wherein each of the first and second ends
include a fastener, the fastener comprising:
a male end having a first planer surface, which includes a first
peelable hook-and-loop type engaging element secured thereto and a
second planer surface, which includes the first engaging elements
secured thereto such that the first engaging elements face in
opposite directions; and a female end having corresponding
peelable, flexible hook-and-loop type engaging elements adapted to
interlock with the male end, the female end being bifurcated into a
first section and a second section, wherein the first section and
the second section are joined at only one end, each section having
substantially the same dimensions as the first end, wherein the
first section is defined by a first internal surface having the
second engaging element secured thereto and the second section is
defined by a second internal surface having a second engaging
element secured thereto such that the second engaging elements of
the first and second internal surfaces of the female end grippingly
receive the first engaging elements of the first and second
sections of the first end when the first and second elements are
applied in a closed position, wherein each section of the female
end further comprises a flexible resilient material enabling the
female end to be peeled away from the male end.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a securing strap, and
specifically to a flexible-type securing strap which is adapted to
be placed in encircling relation about a device to be secured. The
invention is also directed to a specialized fastener for the
securing strap.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Flexible securing straps are well known to the art. They can be in
many forms including a resilient strap having a buckle fastener
arrangement or a bungi-type cord with metal hooks on each end. The
straps have a wide variety of uses. Perhaps the most prevalent type
of securing strap known today has a fastener marketed under the
registered trademark VELCRO brand hook and loop fasteners by Velcro
Corporation, 681 5th Avenue, New York, N.Y. This type of fastener
has gained wide acceptance because of the properties of co-acting
gripping surfaces in the form of mating hooks and loops, which
permit their attachment by placing one surface defined by hooks
into face-to-face relationship with another surface defined by the
loops so that a large number of loops resists separation parallel
to the interfacial plane of engagement but are readily separable by
peeling forces applied substantially normal to this interfacial
plane. The term "interfacial plane of engagement", as used herein,
refers to the area of attachment of the two reciprocating gripping
surfaces. These fastening devices are generally formed of a sheet
of synthetic woven or knitted fabric having raised threads of
synthetic material, such as nylon, which are napped or unnapped to
provide a pile surface defined by a plurality of loops, and which
may be thermally treated to become semi-rigid. Certain of the loops
may then be cut along one side near their outer extremity to form
hooks.
In the prior art applications of VELCRO.RTM. brand fasteners, the
structure has nearly always been adapted such that each fastener
includes one hook surface and one loop surface which is secured by
touch action. For example, reference is made to U.S. Pat. No.
3,086,529 to Munz et al which discloses an elastic strap having at
one end the VELCRO.RTM. pile material and at the other end the
VELCRO.RTM. loop material. Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,005,506 to
Moore discloses a securing mechanism which has a strap intended to
be inserted through a ring structure and doubled over. The strap is
characterized by one of the VELCRO.RTM.-type pile engagement
fabrics, i.e., the hooks or the loops. The ring through which the
strap is inserted has a tab which is characterized by the other
VELCRO.RTM.-type engagement fabric. As the strap is passed through
the ring and doubled over, the pile and loop portions of the tab
portion and the securing strap are joined locking the strap to the
buckle.
Other securing straps also involve the use of a ring. In these
cases, the securing strap is generally attached to an article, such
as a garment, etc. Another portion of the garment contains a ring
or a buckle through which the end of the securing strap is passed
and pulled to tighten the garment portions. One surface of the
strap is provided with the VELCRO.RTM. loop material. The
VELCRO.RTM. hook material may be located farther down the strap so
that the strap with the VELCRO.RTM. hook portion can be pulled
through the loop, doubled over and attached to the hook portion.
Illustrative patents include U.S. Pat. No. 3,827,107 to Moore, U.S.
Pat. No. 3,947,927 to Rosenthal and U.S. Pat. No. 3,430,299 to
Copen.
None of the prior art patents, however, disclose a strap having a
fastener which is constructed in a sandwich fashion such that one
end of the strap has a gripping surface on both sides and the other
end is bifurcated having two internal gripping surfaces which
co-act with the gripping surfaces of the first end to form a strong
fastener attachment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the invention to overcome the
disadvantages of the prior art securing straps and fasteners.
It is further an object of the invention to provide a securing
strap which has a stronger fastener which may be easily separable
by normal peeling forces, but will resist forces in a plane
substantially parallel to the interfacial plane of engagement.
These and other objects of the present invention are met by the
flexible securing strap of the present invention which has at one
end a double-sided strip of VELCRO.RTM. hook material. The other
end is separated or bifurcated into two sections, each of which
have the VELCRO.RTM. loop material on the interior surface, such
that the VELCRO.RTM. hook end will attach to the interior surfaces
of each the bifurcated end sections in a sandwich fashion.
Of particular importance is the fastener which comprises a first
end having a first planer surface which has a first engaging
element secured thereto and a second planer surface having the same
type of first engaging element secured thereto such that the first
engaging elements face in opposite directions with the first end
positioned therebetween. The fastener also includes a second end
adapted to interlock with the first end. The second end is
bifurcated or separated into a first section and a second section.
Each of these sections have substantially the same dimensions as
the first end. The first section of the second end is defined by a
first internal surface having a second engaging element secured
thereto and the second section is defined by a second internal
surface having the same type of second engaging element secured
thereto. Thus, the second engaging elements of the first and second
internal surfaces of the second end of the fastener are adapted to
grippingly received the first engaging elements of the first and
second sections of the first end of the fastener.
A particular advantage of the securing strap of the present
invention is in the fastener itself. The fastener has two gripping
interfaces defined by two paired reciprocal gripping surfaces, as
opposed to standard VELCRO.RTM. type fastener attachments which
only have one gripping interface. Thus, it is extremely difficult
to dislodge the fastener once the ends of the fastener are engaged
in gripping contact. However, by simple peeling action, the
gripping engagement can be disengaged at will.
A further advantage to the securing strap of the present invention
is that there are no metallic or hard objects involved in the
component parts of the invention, which may mark up or scratch the
surface of the device being secured by the strap. Further still,
the securing strap of the present invention can be easily cleaned
by, for example, washing in a washing machine. Because there are no
metal parts to the strap, there is also no concern over elements
which may rust.
The uses for the securing strap and fastener of the present
invention are numerous, including bicycle and automobile securing
straps, etc.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the
securing strap of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the first or male end of the
securing strap of FIG. 1 taken along lines II--II.
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the securing strap of FIG. 1
illustrating the two ends of the securing strap in fastening
contact.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the
securing strap.
FIG. 5 a side elevational view showing the securing strap of FIG. 4
fastened to two objects.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The securing strap of the present invention will now be described
with reference to the drawings, in which the same reference
numerals will be applied to the same features of the securing strap
throughout the several drawings. Referring now to FIGS. 1-3 there
is illustrated a securing strap 10 which has as its primary purpose
the ability to secure an object of virtually any cross sectional
diameter. For example, the securing strap 10 could be used as a
bicycle strap, a book strap, or a tie-down securing strap for
automotive vehicles.
The securing strap has three main features: a main strap 12 a first
or male end 18, and a second or female end 20. The male end 18 and
the female end 20 join together to form the fastener 21, which
illustrated in FIG. 3.
Although the main strap 12 need not be elastic, it is preferable to
have the strap portions constructed of a woven or knitted yarn
which incorporates elastic filamentary yarns to provide elastic
retention forces. The advantage to the elastic strap is that it
provides a snugger fit which better secures the object to be held.
Any strap length desired may be used. Further, although it is
preferable to have a flattened strap as illustrated with a first
surface 14 and a second surface 16, the strap 12 may be rounded or
braided. The rounded and braided structures may also be form of
elastic or resilient material.
Of particular importance to the present invention is the unique
fastener construction 21. The fastener is formed by the mating of
first male end 18 with second female end 20. The male end 18 is
defined by first and second gripping surfaces 22, 24, which are
secured to the strap 12 by sewing, gluing or other means known to
the art. The gripping surfaces are preferably constructed of
VELCRO.RTM. brand separable fastener tape materials. These
materials have a woven or knitted base of a synthetic heat
deformable material, such as nylon, and have resilient engaging
elements upstanding from the respective base member. In the
preferred embodiment, the engaging elements of male end 18 are
constructed in the form of hook-like elements which mate with
loop-like hooking elements on the opposed engaging surface portions
in the female end 20. However, it should be understood that any
flexible engaging elements, including mushroom-like elements,
resilient projections, etc., which are readily securable in
face-to-face relation and which particularly resist the forces
parallel to the interfacial plane of engagement, are contemplated
within the scope of the present invention. Examples of mushroom
configured hooking elements are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.
3,138,841 and 3,320,649 to Naimer and U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,718,725 and
3,770,359 to Hamano. Further examples of knitted form fastener
members within the scope of the present invention are disclosed in
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,530,687 and 3,539,436 to Hamano.
The second or female end 20 is defined by a bifurcation in the
flexible strap 12 in order to form two jaw-like sections 15 and 17.
Generally, one section is the normal extension of main flexible
strap 12. The other section is attached at location 19 by sewing or
other means known to the art. The bifurcated sections 15, 17 are
defined by a first receiving surface 26 on section 15 and a second
receiving surface 28 on section 17. As described above, these
surfaces include the reciprocal mating elements to the gripping
surfaces 22, 24 on the first end 18. As with the first end 18, the
first and second receiving surfaces 26, 28 may be secured to their
respective bifurcated sections 15, 17 by sewing, gluing or other
means known to the art.
In operation, the securing strap 10 is placed in encircling
relation about a device to be secured. If necessary, the securing
strap may be overlapped several times. As mentioned above, the
device to be secured may have any cross-sectional shape which can
be suitably encircled by the flexible strap 10.
The ends 18, 20 of the fastener 21 are connected by placing the
male end 18 within the jaws of the bifurcated sections 15, 17. By
pressing the outer surfaces of the sections 15, 17 of female end 20
together, the first and second gripping surfaces 22, 24 of the male
end 18 come into gripping attachment with the first and second
receiving surfaces 26, 28 of the female end 20 forming fastener 21
as illustrated in FIG. 3. Thus, the fastener has four gripping
surfaces which, when fully engaged, create a stronger gripping
power which is very difficult to pull apart. The fastener 21 is
greatly improved in strength over those of the prior art because
the male end 18 is fastened on both sides creating two interfacial
gripping surfaces. The sheer tension on the strap is therefore
equalized.
It is to be understood that the interlocking pile elements of the
fastener might well be reversed, i.e., the loop elements on the
first and second receiving surfaces 26, 28 may be replaced with the
hook elements, which are on the first and second gripping surfaces
22, 24 of the male end 18, and vice-versa. It may also be desirable
to have the hook elements on one surface of the male end 18 and
have the loop elements on the other surface. The female end 20
would then be altered to have the reciprocating mating elements on
its receiving surfaces 26, 28.
Once the gripping and receiving surfaces are fully engaged, they
can be separated by peeling forces normal to the interfacial planes
of engagement; however, they will resist forces in a plane
substantially parallel to the interfacial planes of engagement.
Therefore, it would be very difficult to dislodge the fastener 21
except by the normal action of peeling the sections 15, 17 of the
second end 20 from the male end 18.
In addition to the embodiments and applications illustrated, the
fastener and securing strap may be utilized in numerous other
applications. For example, reference is made to FIGS. 4 and 5 which
illustrate an alternative embodiment to the securing strap of FIG.
1. The securing strap of this embodiment is defined by two ends 50,
52 each end having its own male end 18 and female end 20. The male
end 18 is connected to a secondary strap 54 which in turn is
connected to securing strap 12 at locations 56. All of straps 12
and 54 may be resilient as previously described.
In operation, the male ends 18 are designed to co-act with their
adjacent female ends 20 which form a loop defined by location 58 as
best illustrated in FIG. 5. The loop 58 may encircle a post or
other object, illustrated at 60. In this manner, separated objects
60 may be secured by the securing strap of FIG. 4. The securing
strap of FIG. 4 is contemplated for use as a tie-down mechanism for
automobile and motorcycle racks.
Although the invention has been illustrated and described in two
forms, it is to be understood that these forms are presented by way
of example only and should not be limited. The invention comprises
all of the embodiments and modifications within the spirit and
scope of the following claims.
* * * * *